Pothead and conductor protecting means



Nov. 29, 1932. G. P. EDMQNDS 1,889,545

POTHEAD AND CONDUCTOR PROTECTING MEANS mad July 10,1925

I "w P 15 Patented Nov. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE P. EDMONDS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO G. & W. ELECTRIC SPECIALTY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS POTKEAD AND CONDUCTOR PROTECTING MEANS Application filed July 10, 1925. Serial No. 42,875.

This invention relates to pothead and conductor protecting means.

@ne object of the invention is to prevent arcing from one conductor terminal to the metal body of the pothead when said terminal is disconnected from its associated electrical conductor.

Another object is to safeguard electrical conductor terminals and the operator handling same when said terminals are disconnected, and at the same time prevent said terminals from being corroded when not in active use.

Another object is to provide a pothead in 15 which the parts thereof and the operator are protected against injury,

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangement shown on the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure l is a front elevation, parts being in section, of a pothead embodying my invention; and

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same arran ement,

5 T e various novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawing, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the figures oi the drawing, it

0 will be noted that my invention is illustrated in connection with a pothead arrangement, including a relatively large metal body 10, one end of which terminates in a drawnout tube r portion 11. Entering said. tube portion and suitably supported in the entrance member 12 thereof, is a cable 13, including four conductors 14, each of said conductors 14 extending upwardly into its separate insulating or porcelain bushing 15. In this particular instance accordingly, there are four such porcelain bushings 15, which are suitably carried by themetal cover 16 of the pothead, which is removably secured to the body of the pothead by any suitable means, such as bolts 17;

Interposed between collar portions 18 of the cover 16 and a portion of each of the porcelain tubes 15, is an insulating sheet 19, which extends entirely over the top of the cover 16 to prevent arcing between the cover 16 and the removable terminal to be referred to later,

which terminal may be electrically connected to and disconnected from an associated electrical conductor 14.

Each conductor 14 at its upper end is electrically connected and secured to an electrical connector 29, having a socket 21 for the reception of a plug terminal 22, which, in turn, is electrically connected to an associated aerial conductor 23. The terminal end of each aerial conductor 23 and the terminal plug are carried by an insulating top 24, which is removably mounted upon the associated porcelain tube 15. it will be understood that the electrical connector 20 is properly anchored within a portion of the tube by means of the anchor ring 31 and the nuts 32 and that the electrical terminal. plug 22 is properly supported or anchored in the removable top 24through means or a gasket 33 and a clamping nut 34 which is securely fitted over the terminal plug. Theelectrical con nection between each conductor 14 and its associated conductor 23 is made at the electrical connector and terminal plug 22. As shown at the left hand side of Figure 1, the terminal plug 22 is mounted within the socket of the electrical connector 20 for forming the electrical connection between the associated con ductors l4 and 23. If it is desired to electrically disconnect such conductors, the same is done by withdrawing the porcelain top 24 vertically, whereupon the terminal plug 22 is withdrawn -from the electrical connector 20. Under such circumstances, the terminal plug 22 is exposed and not only is a menace to the operator handling the terminal plug, but also is aptto cause material damage if such plug is placed upon the metal cover of the pothead body 10. Accordingly, the insulating member 19 is provided for preventing arcing between the withdrawn terminal plug 22 and said pothead body or cover in the event that the operator accidently should attemot to place said withdrawn plug on the top of the pothead.

To protect the operator fully and also to cover and protect the electrical connector 20 and terminal plug 22 when the are electrically disconnected, I have provi ed a dummy center, taking the form of a porcelain body 25, which as shown at the right hand side of Figure 1, is inter osed between the nected to and disconnected from said conporcelain tube and the top 24. More nector, and a dummy member which may bespecifically, anchored in, the porcelain body interposed between said connector and teris a plug 26, which is a duplicate of the minal for protecting them when they are 5 terminal plug 22 and is ada ted to be re electrically disconnected. l0 ceived within the socket 21 o the electrical Signed at Chicago, Ilhnols, this th day connector 20 to reventany moisture or other of June, 1925. fore' n matter rom entering said socket and GEORGE P. EDMONDS. there y prevent corrosion of same. The porcelain body or dummy center is also prov 7 vided with a socket member 27 for the reception of the terminal lug 22, as shown at the right hand side of igure 1, to prevent said terminal plug from becomingcorroded when not in active use, and also for protecting the operator.

t will be understood that a dummy center may be placed over any one or all of the porcelain tubes 15 when their associated electrical conductors are electrically disconnected. Preferably the dummy center should be of a color difierent from that of the porcelain tube 15 and top 24 so that an inspector would readily appreciate the fact that the conductors covered by the dummy center are elec- 9Q trically disconnected. By means of this arrangement, arcing between the pothead cover and the removable terminal plugs is prevented and'also the terminals of the assoso ciated electrical conductors are prevented from corroding and the operator is protected when said conductors are electrically disconnected. Favorable results are obvious, among which are, that with the use of the dummy centers when any number of the terminalsor cables 23 are disconnected at one time, the use of the centers will prevent these cables from being mixed and will insure that they may be always connected to their corresponding cables 14.

. I do not wish to be limited by the embodi "ment of the device shown as other and obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. w I claim:

- 1. In a pothead arrangement, the combination of a pothead body,an insulatin tube extending therefrom, an electrical con uctor extending from said body into said tube an electrical connector connected to said con uctor, a removable top carried by said tube, an electrical terminal carried by said top, whereby it maybe electrically connected to and disconnected from said connector, and a dummy member having portions adapted to receive $816. terminal and connector to thereby protect said members in insulated connection.

2. In a pothead arrangement, the combine-- tion of a metal slothead body, an insulating 7 tube extending ferefrom, an electrical'con- 'ductor extending from the said body into said tube, an electrical connector connected to said conductor, a removable top carried by sa d tube, anelectrical terminal carried by u and top whereby it may be electrically con- 

